Bishop Gainer Installed As Bishop Of Harrisburg

HARRISBURG — A new bishop took over the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg on Wednesday.

It’s a big day today for many Catholics in central Pennsylvania. Bishop Ronald Gainer is now officially the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The Diocese of Harrisburg is made up of 15 counties including Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union Counties.

Bishop Gainer was born and raised in Pottsville and previously told Newswatch 16 he is proud to be a “coal cracker.”

There were a lot of smiles as Bishop Ronald Gainer was installed at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg becoming the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg.

“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Bishop Gainer to applause. “It feels very good to drop the title of bishop designate.”

Bob Sullivan and his wife grew up with the new bishop in Pottsville.

“We went to grade school and high school with him. We’ve been friends for a long time,” Bob Sullivan said.

It is a homecoming for Bishop Gainer who served as the Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky for the last 11 years and served the Diocese of Allentown for almost 30 years.

“While the song in my heart will once again be the Pennsylvania Polka,” Bishop Gainer joked, “there will always be an echo of My Old Kentucky Home in my heart.”